6 answers
1
Question
Updated
510 views
What jobs should I look for as an early student on the path to become a Registered Dietitian?
Looking for more info around becoming a dietitian
6 answers
Updated
Ameera’s Answer
Hi jazmine, it is important to know before time what is required to become an RD.
After your bachelors/Masters degree go and get experience by completing your dietetic internship (at least 6 - 12 months). Some of the important fields in which you can excel include Food technology, community/public health , health practioner/coach, food service management etc.
You can take help from Linkedin.
Best of luck!
After your bachelors/Masters degree go and get experience by completing your dietetic internship (at least 6 - 12 months). Some of the important fields in which you can excel include Food technology, community/public health , health practioner/coach, food service management etc.
You can take help from Linkedin.
Best of luck!
Updated
Sikawayi’s Answer
Hello Jazmine, what a great question I would suggest that since you're just starting out in school and the job market, I will say you're going to have enough going on with your classes so as far as working I would say start with volunteer work. Most states have a volunteer program for workers who need experience in your case I suggest you apply for hospitals or school cafeterias. Best of luck
Updated
Bailey’s Answer
I know we hire registered dietitians in the hospital. Reach out to the director and see what options you have. Occasionally you will need to do some research and bypass HR to message the director or go to the hospital and ask to talk to the director. Sometimes working close with a dietician to see what it is all about it helpful! And you can start networking for a future job and networking for recommendation letters from other registered dietitians.
Updated
Danielle’s Answer
Hi Jazmin, I am a registered dietitian and I asked myself this same question years ago!
As an RD you are working with food and people in many different environments. Jobs in the hospital food service department such as a diet tech, meal host (person that takes patient meal orders, often patients are on various types of diets), tray line, kitchen supervisor all look great on resumes. Working at a grocery store may help with exposure to various types of foods or customer service or a job involving food preparation helps you gain knowledge on food safety and sanitation. Working at a food bank or WIC will give you good community nutrition experience too. If you have a HS diploma some universities hire lab assistants for research projects and this is also really great experience.
As an RD you are working with food and people in many different environments. Jobs in the hospital food service department such as a diet tech, meal host (person that takes patient meal orders, often patients are on various types of diets), tray line, kitchen supervisor all look great on resumes. Working at a grocery store may help with exposure to various types of foods or customer service or a job involving food preparation helps you gain knowledge on food safety and sanitation. Working at a food bank or WIC will give you good community nutrition experience too. If you have a HS diploma some universities hire lab assistants for research projects and this is also really great experience.
Updated
Darby’s Answer
Hi Jazmin-
Congrats on taking the first steps towards becoming an RD! There is no “right” path to become a dietitian; however, any nutrition experience definitely makes you stand out on an application.
Diet techs are vital to the nutrition team and typically have minimal requirements for hire. Techs assist in different ways- but in a clinical setting, techs typically work in the call center of the hospital to place orders for patients.
Thinking ahead is already showing you have the drive to become an RD- stick with it! Seek out any assistantships, tech, or community positions you can find.
Good luck out there-
Darby Fisher MS, RD
Congrats on taking the first steps towards becoming an RD! There is no “right” path to become a dietitian; however, any nutrition experience definitely makes you stand out on an application.
Diet techs are vital to the nutrition team and typically have minimal requirements for hire. Techs assist in different ways- but in a clinical setting, techs typically work in the call center of the hospital to place orders for patients.
Thinking ahead is already showing you have the drive to become an RD- stick with it! Seek out any assistantships, tech, or community positions you can find.
Good luck out there-
Darby Fisher MS, RD
Updated
Nina’s Answer
Hi Jazmin, I'm a clinical registered dietitian (RD) in Minneapolis, MN. I originally trained in Boston and in DC. To become a registered dietitian, you have required classwork (usually done as part of a Bachelor's degree, but I did mine in a Master's program), followed by a 6-12 month internship that focuses on the 3 areas of dietetics: Clinical, Community, and Foodservice. You need basic proficiency in all 3 areas to pass your RD exam, and then you will generally focus on one of those 3 in your career.
Good jobs to pursue as you're working toward your RD licensure depend on what area you think you might be interested in. If you're not sure, consider trying a job in one area, and volunteering in other areas to get a sense of what you like. Many people who want to pursue clinical nutrition try to work in a hospital or clinic - like a hospital call center, or in a hospital kitchen, or as diet tech taking orders from hospital patients who have difficulty ordering for themselves. You can also do receptionist work at a clinic. Some people work in other food service areas. Others work at community clinics, or with a local sports team that has a dietitian on staff. You can work as a student worker in your college's nutrition office.
The biggest thing to pay attention to is having a variety of experiences that you can use on your internship applications. Currently (and for a while now), only 50% of students applying for dietetic internships get matched to one, so having different RD related experiences is helpful to set your application a part from others. Don't over-stress about that - shadowing dietitians is experience, volunteering with a nutrition-based organization is experience. Work-study in school or your own separate job is experience.
As has been said above, you definitely should talk to local dietitians and dietitian students about their own paths to becoming an RD. There are so many different ways to get here!
Good luck!
Good jobs to pursue as you're working toward your RD licensure depend on what area you think you might be interested in. If you're not sure, consider trying a job in one area, and volunteering in other areas to get a sense of what you like. Many people who want to pursue clinical nutrition try to work in a hospital or clinic - like a hospital call center, or in a hospital kitchen, or as diet tech taking orders from hospital patients who have difficulty ordering for themselves. You can also do receptionist work at a clinic. Some people work in other food service areas. Others work at community clinics, or with a local sports team that has a dietitian on staff. You can work as a student worker in your college's nutrition office.
The biggest thing to pay attention to is having a variety of experiences that you can use on your internship applications. Currently (and for a while now), only 50% of students applying for dietetic internships get matched to one, so having different RD related experiences is helpful to set your application a part from others. Don't over-stress about that - shadowing dietitians is experience, volunteering with a nutrition-based organization is experience. Work-study in school or your own separate job is experience.
As has been said above, you definitely should talk to local dietitians and dietitian students about their own paths to becoming an RD. There are so many different ways to get here!
Good luck!
Delete Comment
Flag Comment
Delete Comment
Flag Comment
Delete Comment
Flag Comment